FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 
THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTION 


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-bill 


Form  No.  A -368 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2013 


http://archive.org/details/reportonexaminatOOwilk 


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# 


j  h  Congress,  \  SENATE.  (  Ex.  Dec. 

2d  Session.     J  I  No.  26. 


REPORT 


OF 


THE  SECRETARY  01  THE  NAVY, 


COMMUNICATING 


The  report  of  officers  appointed  by  him  to  make  the  examination  of  the 
iron,  coal,  and  timber  of  the  Deep  river  country,  in  the  State  of  North 
Carolina,  required  by  a  resolution  of  the  Senate. 


January  18,  1859. — Ordered  to  lie  on  the  table  ;  motion  to  print  referred  to  the  Committee 

on  Printing. 

ebb u art  9,  1859 — Eeport  in  favor  of  printing  the  usual  number  submitted,  considered, 

and  agreed  to 


Navy  Department,  January  17,  1859. 

Sir  :  In  compliance  with  the  resolution  of  the  Senate  of  April  13, 
1858,  authorizing  and  instructing  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  "to 
cause  a  thorough  examination  of  the  iron,  coal,  and  timber  of  the 
Deep  river  country,  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  and  that  he 
report  upon  the  expediency  of  establishing,  at  some  point  in  that 
State,  machine  and  workshops  for  the  construction  of  engines,  boilers, 
&c,  for  naval  vessels,  and  that  he  report  the  same  to  Congress 
at  its  next  session,"  I  directed,  in  July  last,  a  commission  of  officers, 
consisting  of  Captain  Wilkes,  Chief  Engineers  Hunt  and  Martin,  and 
Naval  Constructor  Pook,  to  proceed  to  North  Carolina  to  make  ah 
examination  of  the  region  designated  in  the  resolution,  and  report 
the  result  to  the  department.  I  now  have  the  honor  to  transmit 
herewith  their  reports,  with  the  accompanying  maps  and  diagrams. 

There  are  already  extensive  establishments,  in  very  complete  con- 
dition, for  the  manufacture  and  repair  of  marine  steam  engines  and 
their  dependencies  at  Boston,  New  York,  Prn'ra^elphia,  and  Norfolk, 
which  were  erected  at  great  expense,  and  are  sufficient  for  the 
present  wants  of  our  small  steam  navy.  In  view,  therefore,  of  the 
present  condition  of  the  treasury,  the  provisions  already  made  at  the 
four  navy  yards  mentioned,  and  the  facts  embodied  in  the  reports  of 
the  commission,  I  should  not  deem  it  expedient  at  this  time  to  estab- 
lish in  North  Carolina  machine  and  work  shops  for  the  construction  of 
engines,  boilers,  &c,  for  naval  vessels. 

I  am,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

ISAAC  TOUCEY. 

>   Hon.  John  C.  Breckinridge, 

^       Vice  President  of  the  United  States  and  President  of  the  Senate. 


2  EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


Washington,  December  30,  1858. 

Sir:  In  obedience  to  your  order  of  the  21st  of  July,  appointing 
a  commission,  to  consist  of  myself,  Chief  Engineers  Henry  Hunt  and 
D.  B.  Martin,  and  Naval  Constructor  S.  M.  Pook,  to  make  a  thorough 
examination  of  the  Deep  river  country  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina, 
and  to  report  upon  the  expediency  of  establishing,  at  some  point  in 
that  State,  machine  and  work  shops  for  the  construction  of  engines, 
boilers,  <fcc,  for  naval  vessels,  as  embraced  in  a  resolution  of  Con- 
gress, April  13,  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  reports: 

In  this  examination  I  was  engaged  during  the  months  of  August 
and  September,  and  received  every  facility  and  aid  which  could  be 
desired  from  Governor  Bragg  and  other  authorities  of  the  State,  by 
whom  we  were  furnished  with  the  most  recent  official  reports  and 
maps  of  Professor  Emmons,  the  State  geologist.  I  have  also  to 
acknowledge  great  assistance  and  kind  hospitality  from  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  Deep  river  country,  who  united  to  aid  us  in  our  duties, 
many  of  them  devoting  their  time  exclusively  and  affording  us  much 
local  information.  Among  them  our  thanks  are  especially  due  to  Mr. 
William  McClane,  of  the  Egypt  Company,  Mr.  Evander  Mclvers, 
Captain  Bryan,  Mr.  Clegg,  Mr.  L.  Haughton,  Major  Morrell,  and  Mr. 
Cantwell,  of  Raleigh.  All  the  positions  and  localities  reported  upon 
by  others  were  visited  by  us  and  carefully  examined. 

I  feel  I  should  be  doing  great  injustice  to  Professor  Emmons  did 
I  not  bear  witness  to  his  labors  and  the  use  his  several  reports  have 
been  to  me  in  my  examinations;  and  where  I  have  differed  from  him 
I  have  done  so  with  much  diffidence,  for  to  his  untiring  observations 
great  deference  is  due.  I  trust  that  his  valuable  labors  will  not  be 
interrupted,  but  continued  till  the  whole  of  the  State  has  been  exam- 
ined. There  is  certainly  no  expenditure  of  money  so  profitable  as 
that  which  is  applied  to  the  development  of  the  resources  of  the 
State,  and  these  examinations,  to  be  well  and  carefully  done,  require 
both  time  and  the  expenditure  of  money. 

Before  entering  into  the  details  of  our  examination  of  the  Deep 
river  district,  it  may  be  proper  to  give  the  extent  of  the  sandstone 
formation  of  this  part  of  North  Carolina  in  which  the  coal  measures  lie. 

Professor  Olmstead,  of  Yale  College,  was  the  first  to  define  this 
extent,  in  1824,  and  more  recently  it  has  been  examined  by  Professor 
Emmons.  They  both  agree  that  its  northern  terminus  is  near  Oxford, 
in  Granville  county,  where  it  comes  to  a  point.  It  passes  from  thence 
in  a  southwesterly  direction  across  the  State  for  120  miles,  and  has 
its  terminus  about  6  or  7  miles  within  the  boundary  of  South  Carolina. 
The  breadth  of  the  formation  varies.  Between  Raleigh  and  Chapel 
Hill  it  is  reported  as  being  18  miles.  On  the  Cape  Fear  I  found  it 
less  than  five,  which  continues  for  some  10  miles  to  the  southward 
and  westward.  It  then  suddenly  enlarges  to  12  miles,  embracing  the 
whole  valley  of  the  Deep  river  district,  and  is  then  continued,  con- 
tracting gradually,  till  it  passes  out  of  the  State,  near  Wadesborough. 

The  rocks  which  bound  this  sandstone  formation  are  the  meta- 
;.iorphic  slates,  gneiss,  and  granites;  on  these  the  formation  reposes. 


EXAMINATION  OF  TIIE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


8 


Their  outcrops  are  seen  with  a  great  dip  to  the  northwest,  giving 
a  well  defined  outline  of  this  sandstone  deposit. 

A  particular  description  of  the  geographical  position  of  the  Deep 
river  country  is  deemed  necessary  from  the  fact  that  but  little  is 
known  of  it  even  in  the  capital  of  North  Carolina. 

The  Deep  river  district  is  situated  30  miles  southwest  from  Raleigh, 
15  miles  south  from  Pittsborough,  and  50  miles  north  of  Fayette ville. 
It  occupies  the  very  centre  of  the  State,  and  comprises  part  of  the 
counties  of  Chatham  and  Moore.  It  forms  an  extensive  valley, 
bounded  by  the  Pittsborough  hills  on  the  north  and  east,  the  Buck- 
horn  hills  on  the  south,  and  the  Carthage  hills  on  the  west. 

This  area  lies  between  the  Cape  Fear  river  on  the  east  and  the 
Hancock  mills  on  the  west,  the  head  waters  of  the  creeks  flowing  to 
the  Deep  river  from  the  south,  and  those  which  take  their  rise 
towards  Pittsborough  on  the  north.  This  district  is  about  25  miles 
in  length  by  10  miles  in  width,  and  embraces  an  area  of  some  250  or 
300  square  miles.  To  this  our  examination  was  confined,  and  this 
extent  is  comprised  within  the  limits  of  the  map  which  accompanies 
this  report. 

The  Deep  river  takes  its  rise  in  the  county  of  Guildford,  flows  to 
the  southeast  through  the  county  of  Randolph,  with  a  descent  of  some 
500  to  600  feet  in  some  GO  miles,  until  it  enters  the  county  of  Moore, 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Hancock's  mills,  towards  which  its  current 
is  rapid;  thence  its  general  direction  is  to  the  north  of  east  for  30 
miles,  pursuing  a  very  tortuous  and  sluggish  course,  with  a  fall 
of  27  feet,  and  joins  the  Haw  river,  at  that  distance,  coming  from  the 
northwest  to  form  the  Cape  Fear  river. 

The  country  which  it  drains  comprises  an  area  of  one  thousand 
miles,  affording  an  abundant  supply  of  water  for  its  slack-water  navi- 
gation and  for  milling  purposes.  It  is  subject,  occasionally,  to  great- 
freshets  in  the  lower  part,  which  overflow  its  banks  to  the  depth  of 
ten  or  twelve  feet,  but  owing  to  the  sluggish  flow  of  the  current,  it 
passes  off  without  damage  to  the  crops  and  farms. 

In  our  examination  of  the  coal  and  iron  of  this  district  I  must  refer 
to  the  geological  formation,  and,  for  the  purpose  of  more  clearly 
illustrating  and  understanding  the  limits,  will  treat  it  as  an  indepen- 
dent formation,  (for  such  it  may  be  regarded,  being  unconformable  ta 
the  primitive  rocks,)  under  its  three  natural  divisions,  viz  : 

First.  The  conglomerate  and  lower  red  sandstone. 

Second.  The  coal  measures,  including  the  sandstones  of  n  drab 
color,  bituminous  shales,  and  slates. 

Third.  The  tertiary  and  drift. 

These  three  occupy  the  depression,  or  basin,  of  the  primitive 
formation,  the  outline  of  which  may  be  recognized  a  short  space 
beyond  the  outcrops. 

In  every  part  of  the  coal  field  Ave  have  evidence  that  the  con- 
glomerates rest  upon  the  metaphoric  slates,  gneiss,  or  granite.  The 
effects  of  upheaval,  as  well  as  diluvial  action,  are  visible  in  many 
places  throughout  its  extent. 

In  order  to  define  the  extent  of  the  basin  I  found  it  necessary  to 
search  not  only  for  the  outcrop  of  the  coal  but  also  for  the  outcrops 


4 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


of  the  underlying  as  well  as  the  outlying  rocks;  and,  assisted  by  in- 
formation derived  from  reliable  authority,  I  succeeded  in  tracing  it 
from  one  locality  to  another,  until  I  had  obtained  what  I  deemed 
sufficient  evidence  of  the  margin  of  the  basin  or  trough. 

The  annexed  diagram  of  a  section  across  the  coal  field  will  better 
explain  the  formation: 


Metamorphic  slates.  Metamorphic  slates. 

Section  of  coal  field,  Deep  river. 

I.  Conglomerate;  2.  Red  sandstone;  3.  Black  slates;  4.  Dark  sandstone,  fire  clay;  5.  Shales  and  iron  ore; 

6.  Coal;  7.  Argillaceous  slates. 

The  following  is  the  course  which  it  follows  : 

The  line  of  outcrop  of  this  coal  has  been  traced,  beginning  near 
Dye's,  to  the  eastward  of  the  plantation  of  Evander  Mclvers;  thence 
westward  some  two  miles,  near  the  house  of  Mclvers,  turning  there 
to  the  north-northwest  of  his  plantation;  thence  towards  the  north- 
east for  two  and  a  half  miles,  and  then  to  the  westward,  crossing  the 
Deep  river  at  Mr.  Wicker's  plantation,  from  which  place  to  the  west- 
ward, passing  through  the  Farmersville  plantation  in  nearly  a  straight 
line,  touching  the  river  near  the  bend  opposite  Egypt,  and  con- 
tinuing beyond  through  the  Taylor,  Haughton,  Tysor,  and  Palmer 
plantations,  a  distance  of  seven  miles. 

From  the  latter  to  the  Bingham  plantations  its  course  is  west- 
southwest  five  miles,  and  thence  it  passes  on  a  more  westerly  course, 
through  the  Murchison  and  Forshee  plantations  three  miles,  again 
crossing  the  river,  and  is  covered  up  near  the  latter  by  the  overlying 
debris  of  the  rocks. 

On  the  south  the  coal  does  not  outcrop,  owing  to  thick  covering 
of  the  debris  of  the  rocks,  which  has  been  deposited  over  it.  We 
have  therefore  to  refer  to  the  outcrops  of  the  conglomerates  and  red 
sandstone,  and  the  dip  and  strike  of  the  slates  and  sandstones  over- 
flying the  coal  measures  on  the  western  end,  to  assist  us  in  arriving 
at  the  form  of  this  basin. 

The  conglomerates  are  seen  to  extend  beyond  the  coal  at  the  south- 
western end;  several  quarries  have  been  worked  on  Richland  creek, 
where  the  millstones  have  been  sought  for  and  found.  Their  direction 
changes  towards  the  south  and  southeast,  across  the  range  of  the 
sandstone  formation  of  the  State.  This  is  also  observed  of  the  slates 
and  sandstones,  the  dips  tending  towards  the  axis,  while  the  strike 
conforms  to  the  margin  of  the  basin.  '  The  slates  are  generally  argil- 
laceous and  destitute  of  fossils;  the  sandstones  are  fine,  with  ripple 
marks  resembling  those  which  lie  beneath  the  coal  of  the  Egypt  shaft. 

The  rock  which  has  been  termed  the  upper  red  sandstone  I  have 
nowhere  encountered,  except  beyond  the  margin  or  a  short  distance 
within  the  basin,  as  an  upper  deposit.    I  think  it  has  no  place  in  the 


EXAMINATION  OP  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


formation  of  this  trough  or  basin;  but  it  is  of  recent  origin,  probably 
of  the  tertiary.  It  lies  un conformably  to  the  rocks  of  the  basin,  and 
the  beds  of  pebbly  quartz,  which  in  certain  localities  are  found  near 
it,  appear  to  me  to  be  accumulated  drifts  from  the  older  and  outlying 
rocks. 

In  all  cases  where  the  conglomerate  crops  out  we  find  the  lower 
red  sandstone  accompanying  it. 

The  lower  rocks  are  seen  on  the  south  side  along  the  courses  of  the 
creeks  which  flow  towards  the  Deep  river,  where  they  crop  out  with 
a  dip  towards  the  northwest  and  a  strike  to  the  northeast  and  south- 
west. The  southern  outcrops  are  not  so  distinct  or  continuous  as  on 
the  northern  sides,  yet  they  offer  abundant  evidence  of  the  limit  to 
which  the  coal  must  be  circumscribed.  The  rocks  have  a  less  and 
opposite  dip,  but  the  strike  conforms  to  the  basin.  These  rocks  lie 
in  contact  with  the  primitive  formation  of  metamorphic  slates,  gneiss, 
and  granite,  along  the  Buckhorn  range,  the  whole  surface  of  w^hich 
is  strewn  with  fragmentary  quartz. 

These  outcrops  have  been  further  traced  to  the  northeastward  to 
Gilmore's  mill",  on  Pattison7s  creek;  to  the  north  at  Evander  Mclver's 
mill,  on  the  Great  Buffalo  creek,  and  at  the  Little  Buffalo  church; 
thence  to  the  eastward,  again  outcropping  on  the  head  waters  or 
branches  of  Lick  creek,  near  Kelley's  mills,  at  the  "Sisters77  and 
"  Wooley  Rock;77  thence  to  below  the  mouth  of  Lick  creek,  and  about 
a  mile  above  the  junction  of  the  Buckhorn  creek  with  the  Cape  Fear 
river. 

The  conglomerate  on  the  north  side  is  seen  at  House7  s  quarry,  then 
near  Jones7  falls,  dipping  to  the  eastward,  and  (thence  is  traced  to 
Ellington7 s,  by  Professor  Emmons;*  then  to  the  southwestward  to 
near  Y.  Wicker7  s  plantation,  where  it  makes  a  turn  to  the  northwest 
towards  M.  Wicker7  s,)  passing  between  his  house  and  the  Deep  river; 
crosses  the  Deep  river  near  George7  s  creek,  and  pursues  a  course  to 
the  westward  a  short  distance,  to  the  north  of  the  outcrops  of  the 
coal,  and  nearly  parallel  to  its  curve. 

Thus  I  have  traced  the  peculiar  outline  of  the  basin  or  trough,  and 
thereby  determined  its  length  and  width.  The  form  will  be  better 
understood  by  examining  the  maps  on  which  it  is  shown. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  from  Evander  Mclver7s  to  Ellington7  s  the 
north  and  south  conglomerates,  with  the  red  sandstones,  approach 
nearest  to  each  other,  and  have  almost  a  parallel  direction,  with  op- 
posite dips.    They  are  not  separated  more  than  two  and  a  half  miles. 

It  is  therefore  evident  that  the  older  rocks  have  narrowed  the  de- 
pression, though  perhaps  not  lessened  the  depth;  consequently,  some 
of  the  overlying  rocks  may  be  wanting,  or  thin  out,  as  they  are  ob- 
served to  do  near  this  locality. 

The  topography  of  the  country  shows  that  the  outcrops  of  the  con- 

°  The  line  of  the  outcrop  of  the  conglomerate  from  Jones'  falls  to  Ellington's,  and 
thence  to  Wicker's,  I  have  adopted  upon  the  authority  of  Professor  Emmons'  map.  I  had 
no  opportunity  to  trace  this  outline,  but  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  there  is  some  error 
in  it,  and  that  the  conglomerate  which  is  seen  at  Ellington's  is  the  southern  outcrop  of 
the  basin,  and  that  the  northern  one  passes  from  Jones'  falls  up  towards  the  Eocky  river. 


6 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


glomorates  conform  to  the  highest  ridges,  and  follow  them  almost  at 
a  uniform  height,  leading  to  the  conclusion  that  at  some  remote  period 
the  whole  was  deposited  at  the  same  time  and  derived  from  the  same 
source."'5" 

It  is  apparent,  also,  that  the  debris  of  the  rocks  in  the  upper  or 
most  western  part  of  the  valley  have  been  carried  by  the  water 
towards  its  eastern  termination  and  deposited;  thus  the  valley  or  lake 
(if  such  it  was)  has  been  gradually  filled  up  and  the  river  finally  con- 
fined to  the  channel  it  now  occupies,  winding  with  little  fall  through 
the  alluvial  or  drift,  from  ten  to  fifteen  feet  below  the  surface  of  the 
valley. 

Although  the  deposit  of  coal  in  the  Deep  river  district  will  not 
bear  a  comparison  to  the  vast  fields  of  that  mineral  in  the  western 
States,  yet,  owing  to  its  position,  proximity  to  market,  and  adaptability 
to  many  purposes  in  the  arts,  and  connected  as  it  is  with  extensive 
beds  of  iron  ore,  it  may  be  esteemed  of  great  value  and  interest  to 
the  State  as  well  as  of  national  importance. 

The  shaft  which  has  been  sunk  by  the  Governor's  Creek  Coal  and 
Iron  Company,  at  Egypt,  affords  the  most  reliable  evidence  of  the 
perpendicular  section  of  the  strata,  to  the  depth  of  four  hundred  and 
sixty  feet  below  the  surface,  and  includes  the  lower  coal  seam. 

This  shaft  has  fully  established  the  existence  of  several  veins  of 
coal  as  well  as  veins  of  valuable  iron  ores,  lying  in  juxtaposition  with 
the  coal.  It  is  situated  fifteen  hundred  feet  within  the  outcrop  of 
coal,  to  the  south,  and  perpendicular  to  its  trend. 

The  annexed  diagram  exhibits  a  vertical  section  of  this  shaft,  by 
which  each  strata  may  be  seen  with  its  approximate  thickness  or  depth. 

The  strata  in  the  shaft  of  Egypt,  however,  cannot  be  taken  as  a  true 
development  of  the  coal  field.  At  short  distances  from  it,  both  east 
and  west,  we  find  the  sandstones  in  thicker  masses,  and  replacing 
some  of  the  slates  exhibited  in  the  section,  which  shows  but  a  limited 
development  of  them.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  first  sandstone  met 
with  is  at  the  depth  of  323  feet,  100  feet  above  the  coal,  and  but  one 
foot  in  thickness.  There  are  two  lower  seams,  separated  by  a  strata 
of  black  slate,  with  iron  balls  405  feet  deep,  and  one  foot  ten  inches, 
and  three  feet  in  thickness,  t 

By  this  section  we  are  assured  of  the  depth  at  which  the  under- 
lying seams  of  coal  are  found.  Five  are  seen  at  the  outcrop,  which 
unite  as  they  descend  and  form  but  four  in  the  shaft.  The  large  or 
six  feet  wide  seam  in  the  shaft,  at  Egypt,  is  423  feet  deep.  Between 
the  coal  seams  are  found  carbonates  of  iron,  known  by  the  name  of 
the  "blackband." 

I  think  every  one  must  be  satisfied,  from  its  regularity  and  the 
diminution  of  dip  in  the  distance  from  the  outcrop,  (some  eight  or  ten 


*  Many  of  these  heights  were  kindly  furnished  me  hy  Mr.  Keuper,  engineer  of  the  West- 
ern railroad,  to  whom  I  have  also  to  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  for  tracings  of  the 
railroad  surveys. 

f  For  the  details  of  this  section  I  am  indebted  to  the  report  of  Professor  Emmons  and 
that  of  Mr.  McClane.  These  have  been  verified  by  specimens  obtained  of  the  different 
strata  from  the  various  depths. 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


7 


degrees)  that  its  seams  tend  to  conform  to  the  shape  of  a  basin  or 
trough. 

It  appears  that  the  greatest  depth  of  this  coal  basin  is  on  the  northern 
side,  giving  cause  to  believe  that  this  valuable  mineral  does  not  extend 
below  such  depths  as  to  render  its  mining  both  profitable  and  easy. 

We  may  acquire  some  approximate  estimation  as  to  the  quantity  of 
coal  this  basin  may  contain  by  taking  the  data  which  our  results  give 
of  the  extent  of  the  basin,  viz:  some  75  square  miles,  which  there  is 
every  probability  is  underlaid  by  the  veins  of  coal  from  which  the 
value  of  this  mineral  wealth,  locked  up  in  this  district,  may  be  readily 
calculated. 

Although  we  have  no  actual  proof  to  offer,  yet  there  can  be  but 
little  doubt  that  the  extent  of  the  coal  seams  will  be  found  to  underlie 
the  whole  of  the  basin.  I  was  very  desirous  to  place  the  extent 
beyond  question,  and  had  it  been  in  my  power  I  should  have  ordered 
borings  to  be  made,  considering  it  of  great  importance  in  a  national 
point  of  view;  but  as  there  was  no  appropriation  made  to  meet 
the  expense  of  this  examination  it  could  not  be  undertaken. 

I  feel  it  my  duty,  however,  to  recommend  that  a  small  appropria- 
tion be  made  for  this  purpose,  which  w^ould  establish  beyond  a  doubt 
the  actual  extent  of  this  coal  field. 

There  is  no  anthracite  coal  in  this  field.  In  some  places  it  is  debitu- 
minous,  viz:  at  Tysor's,  Palmer's,  and  Wilcox's,  where  it  has  under- 
gone, with  the  slates  and  beds  of  iron  ore,  much  disturbance,  probably 
by  an  upheaval,  and  afterwards  been  denuded  by  the  action  of  the 
river,  which  has  removed  the  debris  of  the  rocks  and  exposed  to  view 
the  shales  and  slates  as  far  as  the  plantations  of  Mr.  Alston  and  Mr. 
Glegg. 

Through  the  heat  of  the  trap  dyke  which  has  been  injected  near 
by,  its  volatile  matter  has  been  driven  off,  leaving  it  in  a  debitumin- 
ized  state,  or  nearly  a  natural  coke.  It  corresponds  in  fracture  with 
the  coals  of  other  localities  in  the  field,  and  is  known  under  the  ap- 
pellation of  "dry  coal;"  but  I  have  seen  none  with  a  concoidal  frac- 
ture, which  the  true  anthracites  have  as  their  distinguishing  mark. 
The  li  Wilcox  seam"  is  of  this  character  ;  its  outcrop  corresponds  in 
thickness  with  the  upper  coal  seam. 

In  the  neighborhood  of  the  Wilcox  place  small  seams  of  natural 
coke  are  found  to  crop  out  in  juxtaposition  with  veins  of  iron  ore. 
In  some  parts  these  have  undergone  great  heat,  sufficient  to  change 
them  to  scoria. 

The  coal  lying  to  the  northward  of  the  Wilcox  outcrop  is,  however, 
unaltered,  and  similar  to  the  best  kind  of  coal,  affording  evidence 
that  the  heat  of  the  trap  dyke  has  been  confined  to  a  limited  space, 
and  effected  only  a  local  change  in  the  character  and  position  of  the 
coal  along  the  line  of  its  strike,  which  passes  through  the  Evans, 
Tysor's,  Palmer,  and  Haughton  plantations,  in  a  E.NE.  direction. 

There  also  appears  to  have  been  a  disturbance  near  Evander 
Mclver's,  and  an  injection  of  trap,  which,  however,  does  not  appear 
ot  have  changed  the  coal,  as  at  Wilcox's.    Here  we  find  the  outcrops 


8 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


of  the  black  slates  and  ripple  marked  sandstones  lying  within  a  few 
hundred  feet  of  each  other,  with  opposite  dips  and  strikes.  The 
position  of  this  outcrop  is  150  feet  above  the  plain  of  Egypt. 

The  sandstone,  traced  round  to  the  southward  of  the  black  slate,  is 
found  of  great  thickness  near  the  conglomerates  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Mdver's  mill,  on  the  Great  Buffalo  creek. 

This  sandstone  has  larger  ripple  marks  and  is  more  argillacious  than 
that  which  underlies  the  coal  in  the  shaft  at  Egypt,  450  feet  below 
the  surface,  but  otherwise  resembles  it. 

It  will  be  observed  that  these  two  strata,  which  Ave  find  in  the  shaft 
at  Egypt  underlying  the  coal,  are  here  noticed  to  the  southward  and 
eastward  of  the  northern  outcrop,  and  apparently  overlying  it ;  but 
it  is  readily  seen  that  they  must  be  the  sandstone  and  black  slates  of 
the  southern  side  of  the  basin. 

This  disturbance  probably  took  place  before  the  injection  of  the 
"trap  dyke.77 

The  black  slates  pursue  a  direct  course  on  their  strike,  and,  after  a 
considerable  distance,  disappear  under  the  debris  of  the  rocks.  It  is 
this  locality  where  the  two  conglomerates  approach  nearest  to  each 
other. 

I  am  strongly  impressed  with  the  belief  that  coal  will  be  found 
within  the  area,  between  Mclver7s  and  Jones7  Falls,  or  to  the  east- 
ward, beyond  where  its  outcrop  is  seen  to  end. 

Nearly  the  whole  of  this  space  is  now  covered  with  forest,  and  a 
deep  deposit  of  drift  overlies  it,  so  that  no  outcrop  of  the  recent  or 
older  rocks  appear. 

The  conglomerates  consist  of  quartz  pebbles  of  various  sizes,  most 
of  which  have  undergone  much  attrition,  some  round,  others  oblong. 
These  are  intermixed  with  disintegrated  slates  of  the  older  rocks, 
consolidated  by  a  cement  under  great  pressure. 

In  some  localities  the  cement  is  mixed,  more  or  less,  with  marly 
clays,  colored  red  by  the  oxide  of  iron,  which  diminishes  their  hard- 
ness. With  this  exception,  on  the  north  and  south  sides,  the  con- 
glomerates are  alike. 

At  the  west  end  the  cement  is  the  strongest,  and  the  rocks  are 
quarried  for  mill  stones. 

The  red  sandstone  lying  above  the  conglomerate  is  of  a  dark, 
purplish  color,  approaching  that  of  a  burnt  brick.  Its  texture  is 
even,  composed  of  fine  grains  of  quartz,  is  a  good  freestone,  and  has 
few  marly  layers. 

The  black  slates  lie  next  above  the  red  sandstone,  and  is  the  rock 
in  which  the  shaft  at  Egypt  ends. 

Above,  in  the  series,  they  alternate  with  the  argillaceous  slates, 
and  contain  deposits  of  argillaceous  iron  ore.  They  are  from  fifteen 
to  forty  feet  in  thickness  ;  this  is  the  strata  in  which  the  fossils  in 
the  series  are  found,  consisting  of  posidonia,  cythere,  &c. 

The  drab  colored  sandstone,  known  by  its  ripple  marks,  is  a  fine 
and  compact  kind.  In  color  it  is  of  a  dirty  buff  or  greenish  yellow, 
and  the  surface  is  not  unfrequently  marked  with  marine  plants.    It  is 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


9 


suitable  for  grindstones,  and  might  be  used  as  a  firm  and  solid  material 
for  building. 

The  bituminous  shales  in  connexion  with  the  coal  are  very  in- 
flammable, and  burn  with  a  white  flame.  They  contain  nearly  30  per 
cent,  of  volatile  matter,  and  about  20  per  cent,  of  fixed  carbon;  they 
will  probably  be  used  for  the  preparation  of  kerosene  oil,  though 
they  do  not  yield  the  quantity  that  is  obtained  from  the  coal  in  the 
west.  At  the  present  price  it  can  be  manufactured  from  the  shales 
at  a  profit.  I  have  seen  samples  of  it  which  had  been  well  clarified. 
The  bituminous  shales  all  lie  above  the  coal  and  in  strata,  alternating 
with  the  argillaceous  slates.  The  fire  clays  do  not  occur,  as  in  other 
coal  fields,  immediately  below  the  coal  seams;  but  the  sandstone  par- 
takes somewhat  of  this  character.  They  are  interstratified  with  the 
slates.  According  to  Professor  Emmons,  organic  remains  traverse 
tnem  vertically;  the  plants  are  different  from  other  coal  fields,  and 
the  sigillaria  have  not  yet  been  discovered. 

The  calcareous  shales  are  greenish  in  color  and  resemble  somewhat 
magnesian  limestone.  These  contain  no  fossils,  and  in  thickness  vary 
from  four  to  twenty-five  feet. 

The  upper  red  sandstone  differs  from  the  lower  in  being  soft  and 
perishable,  from  its  marly  nature.  In  color  it  is  of  a  light  red,  occa- 
sionally a  light  brown,  mottled  with  green  spots  and  often  variegated. 
The  outline  of  these  is  distinct.  In  it  are  found  many  cavities  of 
irregular  shape,  around  which  is  generally  perceived,  during  the 
summer  season,  a  white  efflorescence;  this  proved  to  be  common  salt, 
(chloride  of  soda.)  It  was  found  more  abundant  on  the  western  end 
of  the  coal  field,  where  this  red  sandstone  overlies  the  formations. 
In  some  cases  wells  which  are  sunk  in  this  rock  have  brackish  water: 
but  where  they  go  deeper  than  30  to  35  feet  the  water  is  pure.  In 
the  deep  shaft  at  Egypt  the  water  is  entirely  free  from  saline  taste. 
In  my  inquiries  I  was  not  able  to  learn  of  the  existence  of  any  salt 
springs.  The  upper  red  sandstone  bears  a  resemblance  to  the  lower 
in  its  lithological  character,  but  there  is  a  marked  difference  in  their 
fossils. 

The  plant  bed  of  Professor  Emmons,  I  think,  gives  evidence  that 
this  upper  red  sandstone  is  totally  distinct,  and  more  recent  than  the 
coal  formation  of  the  valley  of  the  Deep  river. 

It  will  be  seen,  from  the  foregoing  remarks,  that  I  am  of  opinion 
that  this  formation  of  coal  belongs  to  the  new  red  sandstone,  and,  as 
far  as  my  observations  have  gone,  the  fossils  appear  to  prove  it. 

The  coal  of  the  lower  seam  lies,  as  it  will  be  seen,  between  two 
seams  of  black  band  ore,  and  more  or  less  partakes  of  their  character. 
It  is  consequently  unfitted  for  use  as  a  fuel,  but  is  well  adapted  to 
the  reduction,  by  roasting,  of  this  ore  for  iron. 

The  three  upper  seams  of  the  bituminous  coal  are  well  adapted  for 
fuel,  cooking,  gas,  and  oil.  It  is  a  shining  and  clean  coal,  resembling 
the  best  specimens  of  Cumberland.  It  ignites  easily,  and  burns  with 
a  bright,  clear  combustion,  and  leaves  a  very  little  purplish  grey  ash. 
It  swells  and  agglutinates,  making  a  hollow  fire;  is  a  desirable  coal 


10  EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 

for  blacksmiths'  use,  for  the  parlor,  and  superior  to  most  coals  for  the 
production  of  gas,  for  which  it  is  likely  to  be  in  great  demand.  Its 
freedom  from  sulphur  is  another  of  its  recommendations. 

It  is  thought  not  to  readily  disintegrate  by  exposure  to  the  atmo- 
sphere. Its  coke  is  light  and  porous.  When  rapidly  burned  it 
inclines  to  melt  and  flow;  but  when  under  slow  combustion  it  does 
not  exhibit  this  tendency,  which  is  owing  to  the  presence  of  a  large 
quantity  of  bitumen. 

I  was,  at  first,  determined  to  have  the  iron  ores  of  this  district 
tested  both  by  an  assay  and  by  chemical  analysis.  The  former,  it  is 
believed,  affords  a  more  practical  test  of  their  value;  but  as  it  could 
not  be  obtained  within  the  time,  the  chemical  analysis  was  alone 
made.  The  ores  and  coal  were  submitted  to  Professor  George  C. 
Shaeffer,  of  this  city,  whose  ability  and  care  in  this  operation  are  well 
known,  and  who  has  afforded  me  full  data  of  the  results  and  the 
manner  of  conducting  the  analysis. 

COAL  FROM  EGYPT  SHAFT. 

The  mode  of  analysis  Avas  as  follows  :  The  coal  was  dried  and 
coarsely  powdered,  and  ignited  in  a  covered  crucible  until  all  inflam- 
mable matter  had  been  driven  off. 

The  quantity  of  sulphur  was  determined  by  digesting  the  finely 
pulverized  coal  in  fuming  nitric  acid,  to  which,  from  time  to  time, 
chlorate  of  potassa  was  added;  by  which  process  most  of  the  carbon 
was  oxidized.  The  sulphur  was  then  estimated  in  the  usual  way — 
from  the  quantity  of  sulphate  of  baryta  precipitated.  The  result  was, 
sulphur,  1.3  per  cent. 

The  large  quantity  of  inflammable  matter  that  the  coal  contains 
led  to  a  slight  variation  in  the  results,  as  in  one  case  the  vessel  was 
found  lined  with  carbon  deposited  from  the  gas  coming  in  contact 


with  the  highly  heated  surface. 
The  first  specimen  gives — 

Bituminous  matter  as  gas   30. 

Fixed  carbon,  (coke)   70. 

Second  specimen — 

Bituminous  matter  as  gas   34. 

Fixed  carbon,  (coke)   66. 

The  ash  in  first  was  5.3  per  cent.;  second,  5.4  per  cent.  The 
composition  of  this  coal  is,  therefore,  as  follows : 

Per  cent. 

Bituminous  matter  given  off  as  gas   32.7 

Fixed  carbon,  (coke)   60.7 

Ash   5.3 

Sulphur    1.3 


100.0 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


11 


Specific  gravity  •  • 
Another  specimen 


mean. 


The  coal  is  a  light,  highly  bituminous  coal,  yielding  a  shining  and 
very  porous  coke  and  purplish  ash,  an  excellent  coal  for  making  gas 
or  for  burning.  It  absorbs  only  y-gVo  °^  ^s  we%&*  °f  water,  after 
having  been  immersed  for  some  time. 

From  Professor  Johnson's  able  report  we  have  several  analyses  of 
this  coal,  from  the  Farmersville  estate,  which  give  the  mean  results 
as  follows  : 

Carbon   59.25 

Volatile  matter   30.53 


Specific  gravity  1.409. 

The  dry  or  debituminized  coal  has  less  than  one-quarter  of  the 
volatile  matter  that  the  bituminous  coal  contains.  It  is  thought  that 
it  cannot  compete  with  the  true  anthracites  of  Pennsylvania  in  the 
northern  markets.  It  is,  however,  adapted  for  stoves,  and  for  the 
reduction  of  iron  ores  in  roasting. 

I  have  heretofore  stated  that  there  is  but  a  small  quantity  of  this 
coal  in  the  basin,  and  that  it  has  been  produced  by  a  change  in  the 
bituminous,  effected  by  the  heat  of  the  trap  dykes. 

Professor  Schaeffer  remarks  on  this  description  of  coal  from  the 
Wilcox  vein,  that  it  has  a  cubical  fracture,  as  is  seen  in  some  speci- 
mens of  anthracite,  with  a  metallic  lustre.  When  it  is  heated  to  a 
high  degree  it  decrepitates  with  violence,  falling  into  thin  plates. 

The  loss,  after  intense  ignition  in  a  covered  crucible,  was,  in  one 
experiment,  3.1  per  cent.,  and  in  a  second,  3.8.  This  loss  is  not  im- 
puted to  the  escape  of  bituminous  matter,  nor  from  enclosed,  uncom- 
bined  water;  for  both  specimens  were  well  dried.  On  an  average 
the  composition  of  this  coal  may  be  stated  as  follows: 

Water  and  volatile  matter   3.75 

Fixed  carbon   87.75 

Ash   8.5 


Specific  gravity  1.8 

The  quantity  of  ash  varies  considerably,  from  7  per  cent,  to  10  per 
cent. 

When  this  coal  has  a  cross  fracture  at  right  angles  to  its  lamina?, 
various  substances,  in  solution,  seem  to  have  been  introduced,  par- 
ticularly oxide  of  iron.    This  affects  its  quality. 

The  specific  gravity  and  the  increased  quantity  of  ash  confirm  the 
supposition  that  this  coal  is,  like  the  bituminous.,  deprived  of  its 


Earthy 


10.21 


99.99 


100.00 


12 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


volatile  matter  by  heat,  while  under  pressure,  and  that  the  decrepi- 
tation may  be  due  to  a  constrained  condition  of  its  particles. 

The  large  quantity  of  carbon  it  contains  will  render  it  serviceable 
in  some  metallurgic  or  manufacturing  process,  but  as  a  fuel  it  cannot 
well  be  used,  from  the  decrepitation  it  undergoes. 

Professor  Johnson  gives  the  analysis  of  this  coal,  the  mean  of  three 
experiments,  viz  : 

Fixed  carbon   83.13       83.36       87.18  =  84.56 

Volatile  matter   8.28         6.64         7.35  =  7.42 

Earthv  matter   8.60        9.60         5.47  =  7.89 


100.00      100.00      100.00  =  99.87 

Mean  specific  gravity  1.49. 


IRON  ORES. 


Professor  Schaeffer  was  directed  to  examine  the  iron  ores,  with 
particular  reference  to  a  determination  of  their  commercial  value,  or 
if  they  were  combined  with  any  injurious  substances,  especially  phos- 
phorus and  sulphur.  The  method  of  analysis  he  reports  as  having 
adopted  is  as  follows,  viz:  The  ore  was  reduced,  in  an  agate  mortar, 
to  an  impalpable  powder;  a  part  weighed,  then  dried,  and  ignited  in 
an  open  crucible  to  drive  off  water  and  burn  all  carbonaceous  matter, 
and  the  quantity  thus  driven  off  and  consumed  determined. 

It  was  digested  in  hydrochloric  or  nitro-hydrochloric  acid,  accord- 
ing to  circumstances,  until  everything  soluble  was  taken  up;  the  solu- 
tion was  then,  after  dilution,  filtered,  and  the  residue  insoluble  in 
acid  determined.  This  was  mainly,  if  not  entirely,  silica.  The  acid 
solution,  containing  more  or  less  of  peroxide  of  iron,  was  then  acted 
upon  by  a  current  of  washed  sulphurated  hydrogen,  or  by  its  solution 
in  water,  until  sulpho-cyanite  of  potassium  gave  little  or  no  color, 
evidencing  that  all  of  the  peroxide  of  iron  had  been  reduced  to  a 
protoxide.  The  solution,  smelling  strongly  of  sulphurated  hydrogen, 
was  then  boiled  until  every  trace  of  this  gas  had  disappeared. 

The  quantity  of  iron  present  was  then  determined  by  the  quantity 
of  a  solution  bichromate  of  potassa  required  to  convert  the  protoxide 
to  peroxide,  as  ascertained  by  testing  with  a  solution  of  ferricyanide 
of  potassium. '  The  solution  of  bichromate  was  made  according  to 
the  equivalents  required.  It  was  more  than  once  tested  by  solutions 
of  known  quantities  of  pure  iron,  so  that  there  might  be  no  doubt  as 
to  the  results.  When  any  variations  from  this  mode  of  analysis  were 
adopted  it  will  be  noticed  under  the  respective  ores.  All  the  ores 
Avere  tested  for  the  presence  of  sulphur  and  phosphorus.  The  test 
for  sulphur  was  by  the  action  of  chloride  of  barium  upon  the  acid 
solutions.  The  presence  of  phosphorus  was  determined  by  an  acid 
solution  of  molybdate  of  ammonia  in  excess.  This  test  gave  a  nega- 
tive result,  except  in  one  case.  The  presence  of  either  of  these 
substances  was  only  ascertained  in  the  ores  in  which  it  is  mentioned. 

The  blade  bandkore  is  saffl  to  have  been  first  noticed  at  the  Farmers- 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


13 


ville  pits,  where  it  crops  out.  It  appears  not  to  have  been  suspected 
as  being  similar  to  the  black  band  of  Scotland.  At  its  outcrop  it 
resembles  the  argillaceous  carbonates,  but  the  change  it  undergoes 
was  thought  to  be  owing  to  the  influence  of  the  weather.  When 
found  in  the  coal  fields  it  invariably  accompanies  the  coal  seam. 
There  is  a  seam  lying  between  the  two  upper  seams  of  coal  of  sixteen 
inches  thick,  and  two  others,  each  three  feet  in  thickness,  below  the 
sandstone  or  fire  clay,  having  a  thin  seam  of  coal  between  them. 
With  this  seam  of  coal  they  may  be  mined  with  great  advantage. 

This  ore  is  readily  distinguished  from  a  slate  by  its  brownish  black 
color.  It  has  an  even  fracture,  slightly  concoidal,  massive  and  com- 
pact. After  being  roasted,  it  is  strongly  magnetic;  it  is  easily  con- 
verted into  pig  metal,  and  the  coal  mined  with  it  is  almost  sufficient 
for  this  purpose.  The  iron  produced  from  it  is  highly  valued  to  mix 
with  other  ores  for  castings,  but  for  forging  it  is  deficient  in  strength 
and  never  used. 

Professor  Schaeffer  remarks  upon  this  black  band  ore,  that  it  has  a 
slaty  structure,  and  is  highly  bituminous.  The  iron  is  present  in  the 
form  of  carbonate  of  the  protoxide;  there  is  also  some  carbonate  of 
lime  and  the  usual  earthy  matter  in  such  ores.  It  loses  when  burned 
with  access  of  air  39.9  per  cent.,  24  per  cent,  going  off  as  gas; 
sulphur  was  present  in  considerate  quantity,  but  not  estimated.  In 
its  analysis  the  large  quantity  of  bituminous  matter  had  at  first 
prevented  the  complete  solution  of  the  iron.  This  was  discovered  on 
igniting  the  silica  after  a  prolonged  digestion,  when  it  was  again 
digested  in  acid,  and  the  whole  of  the  iron  obtained. 

The  composition  of  this  ore  is  as  follows,  viz. 

Per  cent. 


Bitumen,  carbonic  acid,  given  off  as  gas   26.0 

Fixed  carbon   15.9 

Earthy  matter  soluble  in  acid   28.4 

Silica   12.5 

Protoxide  of  iron   17. 2 


100.0 


Specific  gravity,  2.12. 

This  small  per  cent,  of  iron  led  to  the  examination  of  another 
portion  of  this  ore.  It  was  first  ignited,  again  pulverized  and  digested 
in  acid.  The  result,  however,  was  nearly  the  same  as  the  above. 
The  quantity  of  iron  is  too  small  to  make  this  a  good  ore.  It  is  more 
bituminous  than  the  well  known  "black  band,*'  to  which  it  bears  a 
great  resemblance. 

The  composition  of  this  "black  band"'  ore,  according  to  the 
analyses  of  Dr.  Jackson,  is  much  richer,  and  gives — 

Carbon   31.30 

Peroxide  of  iron   47.50 

Silex   9.00 


14 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


Bitumen  and  water   8.81 

Sulphur   3.39 

100.00 


The  specimen  analyzed  by  Professor  Schaeffer  contained,  undoubt- 
edly, much  less  iron  than  the  general  run  of  the  vein,  and  much 
more  bitumen,  and,  as  he  remarks,  it  might  be  used  for  making  gas. 
He  is  of  opinion  it  would  bear  the  expense  of  transportation  to  be 
used  for  this  purpose,  (it  furnishes,  at  least,  one-fourth  its  weight  of 
volatile  matter,)  as  the  sulphur  is  not  given  off  until  after  the  gas  has 
escaped. 

The  presence  of  phosphorus  was  detected  in  this  ore  in  considera- 
ble quantity,  probably  owing  to  the  (coprolites)  animal  matter  it 
contains. 

Many  coprolites  arc  found  in  the  black  band,  and  fossils  are  also 
more  abundant  than  in  the  slates.  Professor  Emmons  found  the 
Saurian  teeth  in  great  abundance  in  the  seam,  which  intervenes 
between  the  upper  coal  beds. 

Specular  ores  occur  outside  the  sandstone  formation,  about  six 
miles  to  the  northward  of  the  gulf,  on  the  road  towards  the  town  of 
Graham.  It  is  said  to  be  in  abundance,  and  the  plank  road  passes 
not  far  from  it.  The  analysis  of  the  ore  by  Professor  Schaeffer  is  as 
follows,  viz: 

Peroxide  of  iron   9G.4 

Silica   2.1 

Earthy  matter  soluble   1.5 

100.0 


This  is  nearly  pure  peroxide. 

The  ''heading  ore'7  is  also  of  this  kind,  and  situated  not  far  from 
it.    It  contains,  viz: 

Peroxide   98.2 

Silica   1.4 

Soluble  in  acid  •   0.4 


100.0 


Specific  gravity,  5.09. 

Prolonged  ignition  produced  no  appreciable  loss  in  weight.  Few 
ores  are  as  pure  as  this,  and  none  but  the  nearly  pure  magnetic  oxide 
are  richer  in  iron. 

The  hemetitic  ores  are  some  distance  beyond,  and  9  miles  from  the 
gulf,  on  a  hill  known  as  Ore  Knob.  It  is  elevated  about  300  feet 
above  the  surrounding  country,  and  covers  about  350  acres.  The 
ore  is  a  red  one.    It  is  visible  everywhere.    A  massive  vein  appears 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


15 


to  bisect  the  hill,  and  continue  beyond  to  the  southwest.  Some 
specimens  of  fibrous  ore  were  observed.  The  1 1  ill  is  well  situated  for 
mining,  and  has  been  opened  in  several  places,  and  we  were  informed 
Avas  worked  in  the  revolutionary  war.  Some  castings  are  said  to  have 
been  found,  which  were  made  then,  and  proved,  on  examination,  to 
be  of  great  strength  anjd  toughness.  The  analysis  by  Professor 
Schaeffer  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Peroxide  of  iron   74.3 

Silica   10.6 

Earthy  matter   5.6 

Water   9.5 

Sulphur,  a  trace   0.0 

100.0 


The  quantity  of  iron  makes  this  a  valuable  ore. 

Magnetic  Iron, Ore. — Its  color  is  reddish  brown;  it  lies  in  regular 
strata;  is  2 \  feet  in  thickness.  It  is  found  in  various  places,  but 
was  observed  especially  at  the  Tysor  place.  Its  analysis  by  Professor 
Emmons  gives,  viz: 

PeroxidS  of  iron   79.720 

Carbon   7.368 

Silica   4.000 

Water   8.800 


99. 


Contains  61  per  cent. 

When  reduced  to  powder,  this  ore  becomes  of  an  olive  brown  color 
and  attracted  by  the  magnet.  It  is  here  that  a  company  are  erecting 
a  Catalan  forge,  for  the  production  of  blooms. 

The  "ball  ore'7  resembles  the  ore  of  the  other  coal  formations. 
It  has  also  been  analyzed  and  found  to  contain,  viz: 

By  Professor  Schaeffer.  By  Professor  Emmons. 

Protoxide  of  iron                     40  Peroxide  of  iron   32.40 

Silica                                     13  Silica   40.00 

Carbonic  acid  and  carbona-  Carbonate  of  lime   4.72 

ceous  matter                        34  Carbonic  acid   18.21 

Earthy  matter                         13  Volatile  matter   4.66 


100  99.99 


There  is  another  locality  of  iron  ore  lying  without  this  coal  forma- 
tion, and  rising  through  the  older  slate  rocks,  on  the  Cape  Fear  river, 
at  Buckhorn  Falls.  Although  it  was  not  immediately  connected  with 
the  district  to  which  our  examination  was  directed,  yet  it  was  visited. 
It  lies  some  9  miles  below  the  junction  of  the  Haw  and  Deep  rivers, 
immediately  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Cape  Fear  river.    This  ore  hill 


16 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


rises  about  300  feet  in  height.  It  passes  in  a  southeast  direction  for 
nearly  a  mile,  and  covers  a  surface  of  over  300  acres.  It  is  some- 
what dome-shaped,  and  appears  to  be  one  mass  of  very  rich  ore, 
having  a  solid  vein  of  pure  peroxide,  which  is  8  feet  in  width,  while 
ores  containing  manganese  and  silicious  matter  extend  beyond  it  on 
each  side.  ^ 

This  remarkable  ore  was  first  discovered  by  Mr.  Wm.  McClane, 
but  a  few  years  since,  and  it  probably  has ^not  its  equal  as  a  deposit 
of  iron  in  this  country  short  of  the  Iron  mountain  of  Missouri. 
Professor  Emmons  says  it  is  similar  to  tfyat  ore,  as  well  as  to  that 
found  on  Lake  Superior.  It  is  a  massive  peroxide  of  iron,  in  compo- 
sition similar  to  the  well  known  specular  ore;  is  of  a  dull  reddish 
brown  color,  has  a  bright  red  streak,  is  not  crystalized,  but  very 
heavy,  tough  but  not  difficult  to  break.  He  gives  its  analysis  as  follows : 


By  Professor  Emmons. 

Peroxide  of  iron   95.20 

Silica   4.79 


99.99 


By  Professor  Morfit. 

Peroxide  of  iron   92.96 

Silica  *   3.60 

Manganese    1.14 

Lime,  magnesia,* , and  alu- 
mina  J-   2.32 

100.00 


Specific  gravity,  4.952. 

Professor  Emmons  found  neither  alumina,  manganese,  or  lime,  nor 
was  he  able  to  detect  sulphuret  of  iron,  and  does  not  believe  the  ore 
contains  any  foreign  substance  that  would  be  injurious  to  its  manu- 
facture. 

The  specimens  of  which  the  above  is  the  analysis  were  no  doubt 
taken  from  the  central  part  of  the  vein. 

The  specimen  submitted  to  Professor  Schaeffer  was  taken  from 
beyond  the  vein,  as  it  contains  silex  and  manganese  in  some  quantity. 
Professor  Morfit' s  analysis  of  another  portion  exhibits  nearly  the 
same  result: 

By  Professor  Schaeffer.  By  Professor  Morfit. 

Peroxide  of  iron   56.4    Peroxide  of  iron   42.00 

Silica   26.4    Silica   27.20 

Manganese  and  earthy  matter  17.2    Metallic  manganese   7.99 

Lime,  magnesia  and  alumina  18.13 
Oxygen  with  iron   15.69 

100.  99.82 


Specific  gravity  4.52  and  4.42. 

It  is  quite  evident  that  the  above  specimens  were  taken  from  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  vein,  and  therefore  the  impurities  appear.  The 
first  determination  is  to  be  taken  as  to  the  analysis  of  the  pure  ore,  and 
the  latter  as  that  lying  beyond  the  vein. 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


17 


Professor  Schaeffer  found  this  ore  excessively  hard;  sufficiently  so 
to  scratch  glass,  and  difficult  to  pulverize.  Some  traces  of  a  metal 
were  precipitated  from  the  acid  solution  by  sulphurated  hydrogen, 
which  he  believes  was  lead. 

This  ore  can  be  transported  for  manufacture  on  the  Deep  riverT 
or  sent  down  the  Cape  Fear  to  Wilmington  to  be  shipped  to  a  north- 
ern market. 

Thus  it  will  be  perceived  that  there  is  no  want  of  iron  ores  of  the 
finest  kind  for  manufacturing  the  best  quality  of  iron,  and  all  that  is 
required  is  limestone;  but  this  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  coal  field  of 
sufficient  purity  to  be  used.  There  are  hydraulic  limestones  found  in 
Jhe  shaft  at  Egypt,  but  they  contain  a  great  deal  of  magnesia. 
Analyzed  by  Professor  Emmons,  I  find  its  contents  as  follows: 


Silex   16.20 

Carbonate  of  lime   42.600 

Carbonate  of  magnesia   16.004 

Iron   19.380 

Alumina   0.750 

Water  ■   2. 


96.934 


A  limestone  bed  occurs  at  Evander  Mclver's,  but  it  does  not  appear 
to'contain  much  lime,  and  slacked  very  slowly;  none  of  it  is  crystallized, 
and  from  the  analysis  of  Professor  Emmons,  it  contains  a  larger  pro- 
portion of  magnesia  than  the  foregoing  obtained  from  the  shaft  at 


Egypt,  as  follows: 

Carbonate  of  lime     46.00 

Carbonate  of  magnesia   28.70 

Silex   10.40 

Water   2.40 

Protoxide  of  iron   5.60 

Bitumen  loss   0.00 


A  strata  of  magnesian  limestone  crops  out  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Evans'  mills.    Its  strike  is  to  the  northward  and  westward. 

Although  there  may  be  no  limestone  in  this  valley  suited  for  the 
fluxes  of  the  ores  of  iron,  yet  it  can  be  readily  obtained  by  the  return 
boats  from  some  of  the  deposits  on  the  Cape  Fear  river,  below  Fay- 
ette ville,  where  shell  lime  exists  in  great  quantities. 

The  composition  of  the  calcareous  shales,  according  to  Professor . 


Emmons,  is  as  follows,  viz: 

Carbonate  of  lime   35.50 

Magnesia   9 .25 

Alumina  and  protoxide  of  iron-  •   15.70 

Water   2.59 

Insoluble   36.88 


Ex.  Doc.  26  2 


99.93 


18 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


Copper. — Several  copper  mines,  lying  on  the  northeast,  near  Rocky 
river,  coming  up  through  the  metamorphic  slates,  have  been  dis- 
covered, and  have  proved  very  rich.  I  did  not  visit  the  localities, 
but  saw  a  large  number  of  barrels  on  their  way  to  the  north.  It  was 
the  yellow  and  gray  sulphuret,  they  informed  me. 

In  speaking  of  the  manufacture  of  iron,  I  must  mention  that  char- 
coal  can  be  had  in  any  quantity  and  at  a  very  low  price,  as  the  virgin 
forest  yet  exists  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Deep  River  district;  and 
those  engaged  in  the  use  and  manufacture  of  iron  know  that  the  best 
kinds  of  iron  cannot  be  produced  without  this  article,  and  that  neither 
the  anthracite  nor  bituminous  coals,  nor  coke,  can  compare  with  it. 

It  is  thought  by  those  who  have  great  experience  in  the  manu-^ 
facture  of  iron  that  there  is  no  locality  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
Alleganies  where  a  better  article  of  iron  can  be  produced  than  in  the 
Deep  River  district,  and  at  less  cost.  Its  proximity  to  market  gives 
it  great  advantages  for  becoming  a  large  manufacturing  district,  which 
must  be  the  case,  from  the  weight  and  bulk  of  the  coal  and  iron  and 
its  cost  in  transportation;  besides,  it  will  prove  far  more  economical 
and  profitable  to  manufacture  articles  on  the  spot. 

I  am  of  opinion  that  very  little,  if  any,  coal  will  be  sent  to  market 
from  this  district,  unless  for  use  in  generating  gas,  which  may  be 
able  to  afford  the  price  it  will  command  for  the  manufacture  of  iron. 

There  are  few  places  to  be  found  in  our  country  where  there  is 
such  a  concentration  of  material,  and  which  can  be  mined  with  so 
little  toil  and  expense;  an  abundance  of  the  best  fuel,  consisting  of 
charcoal,  and  the  mineral  coals  susceptible  of  being  advantageously 
coked,  and  in  great  quantity  and  variety  for  all  purposes  of  the  arts, 
as  well  as  domestic  uses;  fire  clays  for  refractory  furnaces;  building 
materials  of  sandstone,  gneiss,  and  granite;  milestone  grit,  and  fine 
sandstone  for  grindstones;  clays  and  sands  for  the  manufacture  of 
glass  and  porcelain.  Of  the  latter  class  there  is  a  large  tract  near 
Jones'  Falls — a  part  of  the  plantation  of  Captain  Bryant. 

Steatite,  or  soapstone,  and  agalmatolite  are  found  in  extensive 
masses  in  Chatham  county,  near  Hancock's  mills,  in  alternate  beds 
with  the  metamorphic  slates.  The  latter  is  of  exceedingly  fine  and 
compact  grain,  and  has  a  very  soft  and  soapy  feeling,  and  is  of  a 
greenish-white  color.  It  is  different  in  composition  from  the  steatite 
or  soapstone,  and  is  of  a  much  finer  grain.  It  can  be  applied  to  the 
same  uses;  but  that  which  has  been  quarried  in  Chatham  county  has 
been  ground  at  Stuart's  mills,  on  the  Deep  river,  to  a  powder  as  fine 
as  flour,  and  exported  to  New  York,  where  it  is  used  for  clarifying 
sugar.  It  sells  for  $18  or  $20  a  ton;  but  in  Carolina  I  was  told  that 
it  was  believed  to  be  used  for  the  adulteration  of  paints  or  soaps,  and 
for  a  cosmetic.  Its  composition  is  given  by  Professor  Emmons  from 
an  analysis  of  Jackson,  as  follows: 

Silex   73.00 

Alumina   18.76 


Potash 
Water 


2.00 
3.55 


97.21 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


19 


Roofing  slates  are  found  on  Rocky  river,  near  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Johnson.  Specimens  were  brought  me  of  some  size  and  suitable 
thickness.  They  were  of  a  light  slate  color,  compact,  and  appeared 
to  split  smooth  and  even. 

I  had  not  time  to  visit  the  quarry,  but  learned  from  reliable  au- 
thorit}^  that  it  was  well  situated,  near  the  forks,  and  above  water 
level,  and  could  be  easily  obtained. 

Timber. — The  Deep  River  country  is  the  dividing  line  between  the 
alluvial  and  primitive  formation.  The  change  of  vegetation  has  a 
well  defined  outline,  the  long  leafed  pine  lying  on  the  south,  and  the 
oaks  and  other  timber  on  the  north.  Our  examination  of  the  timber 
extended  not  only  over  the  Deep  River  country  above  described,  but 
over  many  miles  surrounding  it.  This  examination  proved  conclu- 
sively that  there  was  but  a  small  quantity  of  large  oak  and  other 
timber  required  for  naval  purposes.  There  are  considerable  quan- 
tities of  the  middle  size,  which  is  well  adapted  for  the  construction 
of  vessels  and  machinery. 

Most  of  the  country  has  been  cleared,  and  the  large  timber  cut 
down  or  fallen;  the  few  left  standing  are  partially  decayed  and 
useless. 

As  the  country  is  becoming  more  settled,  and  improvements  are 
progressing,  this  timber  will  fast  disappear.  On  the  south  the  virgin 
pine  forest  yet  exists,  of  which  kind  of  timber  there  is  an  abundant 
supply  of  all  sizes. 

For  the  localities  examined  I  annex  hereto  the  report  of  Mr.  Pook, 
naval  constructor,  whose  attention  was  particularly  directed  to  this 
subject. 

In  the  examination  of  this  district  the  water  power  claimed  much 
of  my  attention.  It  has  been  previously  mentioned  that  the  Deep 
river  has  been  dammed,  to  effect  its  slack-water  navigation.  These 
dams  are  five  in  number,  with  a  fall  of  thirty  feet,  and  the  water  is 
set  back  at  the  upper  pool  as  far  as  Woomble  branch.  Beyond  this 
is  the  Hancock  mills,  which  is  the  only  one  I  shall  include  in  the- 
Deep  River  district.  The  last  dam  is  at  Evans'  bridge,  where  there 
is  a  lock,  and  several  mills  for  grain,  &c.  The  next  dam  below  is  at 
the  Gulf,  and  has  a  large  flour  mill,  as  well  as  carding  machines,, 
owned  by  Mr.  Lawrence  Haughton.  The  third  is  at  the  bend  of  the 
river,  below  Egypt,  where  the  fall  is  about  seven  feet.  There  is  no 
mill  yet  erected  at  this  place.  The  fourth  is  at  Glegg's,  below  the 
Rocky  river,  and  the  fifth  and  lowest  is  at  Jones7  Falls.  Here  they  are 
improving  the  water  power,  and  several  mills  are  being  repaired  and 
constructed.  This  fall  is  two  and  a  half  miles  from  the  Cape  Fear 
river.  This  slack-water  navigation  is  uninterrupted,  as  will  also  be 
the  mills  during  the  entire  year. 

Besides  this  water  power  on  the  Deep  river,  there  are  very  many 
sites  on  the  Haw,  Rocky,  and  Cape  Fear  rivers,  and  on  most  of  the 
'creeks  leading  into  the  Deep  river;  there  are  mills  for  grinding  the 
cereals  and  sawing  the  timber,  of  great  convenience,  as  well  as  of 
advantage,  to  the  country. 

We  now  come  to  the  consideration  of  the  accessibility  of  this  dis> 


20 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


trict,  or  the  ways  and  means  of  transporting  its  materials  to  the 
markets  of  the  world. — (See  map.) 

The  first  which  claimed  my  attention  was  the  slack-water  naviga- 
tion of  the  Cape  Fear  and  Deep  rivers.  This  is  effected  through  the 
construction  of  nineteen  dams  and  locks,  from  Jones'  Falls,  on  the 
Cape  Fear,  to  above  that  at  Evans'  bridge,  the  pool  of  which  latter 
reaches  the  Woomble  branch  of  the  Deep  river.  The  whole  distance 
is  ninety-eight  miles,  and  the  height  overcome  204  feet.  The  locks 
are  115  feet  in  length  and  18  feet  in  width,  and  boats  carrying  from 
100  to  120  tons,  drawing  six  feet  water,  may  navigate  and  reach  the 
upper  part  of  the  coal  field,  passing  close  to  the  various  coal  and  iron 
properties.  The  outcrop  of  the  coal  along  this  line  is  not  elevated 
more  than  100  feet;  and,  if  mined  from  below,  it  can  be  taken  out 
above  the  water  level,  so  that  the  conveniences  for  the  shipment  of 
the  production  of  this  region  will  be  very  great  when  this  work  is 
finished.  Had  the  dams  and  locks  been  properly  and  faithfully  con- 
structed, the  economical  geology  of  the  Deep  River  district  would 
have  been  long  ere  this  developed,  and  the  great  and  valuable  in- 
terests in  the  production  of  coal  and  the  manufacture  of  iron  received 
a  stimulous  which  would  have  added  to  the  wealth  of  the  State  and 
of  its  inhabitants. 

But  this  work  has  been  procrastinated;  the  liberal  appropriations 
of  the  State  so  lavishly  squandered  in  the  construction  of  inefficient 
dams  and  insecure  locks,  which  were  found  inadequate  to  bear  their 
oivn  weight  without  the  force  of  the  water.  It  was,  indeed,  a  great 
misfortune  to  this  district,  and,  combined  with  the  arguments  relative 
to  the  existence  of  a  coal  basin  by  scientific  gentlemen  of  high  char- 
acter and  learning,  tended  to  create  prejudice  and  produce  almost  a 
total  apathy  on  the  part  of  the  legislature  towards  making  further 
appropriations  or  receiving  subscriptions  from  individuals  for  finishing 
this  great  and  useful  work.  Fortunately,  by  the  well  directed  efforts 
of  Mr.  McClane,  in  sinking  the  shaft  at  Egypt,  the  truth  of  the  ex- 
istence of  large  quantities  of  coal  was  established  beyond  a  doubt, 
and  added  much  to  the  reputation  of  Professor  Emmons,  the  State 
geologist,  who  had  manfully  persisted  in  maintaining  what  the  result 
has  proved. 

It  was  a  great  satisfaction  to  perceive  that  this  important  work  had 
fallen  into  better  hands,  and  to  learn  from  Major  Morrell  that  the 
slack- water  navigation  would  soon  be  in  use.* 

It  is  to  be  regretted,  however,  that  the  locks  will  be  but  temporary 
and  require  renewing.  It  is  hoped  that  the  legislature  of  the  State 
will  render  some  assistance  in  erecting  permanent  stone  locks,  to 
replace  these  wooden  ones,  and  without  loss  of  time. 

As  far  as  my  own  observation  went,  and  from  the  report  of  others 
who  are  well  acquainted  with  these  structures,  I  should  suppose  that 
they  might  last  some  time.  Some  apprehensions  are  entertained  rela- 
tive to  the  two  lower  dams,  which  are  built  on  the  soft  sandstone 


<* 1  hear,  as  this  report  is  beiDg  handed  in,  that  the  first  boats  have  passed,  loaded  with 
coal  and  iron  ores,  and  some  with  cotton  and  flour. 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


21 


rock,  known  by  the  name  of  "hard  pan;"  but  I  think  without  cause, 
if  proper  precautions  are  taken  to  prevent  the  undermining  of  the 
dams  consequent  upon  the  attrition  of  the  rock  by  stones  and  gravel, 
which  finally  wear  through  it,  exposing  the  sands  beneath  to  the 
action  of  the  water.  Should  this  take  place  it  would  soon  overtopple 
the  dam.  But,  as  the  engineers  are  well  aware  of  this  defect  in  the 
rock  on  which  they  are  built,  I  have  no  doubt  they  will  take  every 
precaution  and  keep  the  dams  in  good  repair. 

Below  Fayetteville,  some  eight  miles,  the  shoals  of  the  Cape  Fear 
river  are  encountered.  When  drought  prevails  there  is  not  a  suffi- 
ciency of  water  over  these  shoals  to  float  a  steamer  drawing  more 
than  eighteen  inches  water.  Mr.  Pook  reports  that  he  was  detained 
there  some  hours,  and,  in  consequence,  was  thirty  hours  from  Fayette- 
ville to  Wilmington  on  a  small  steamer. 

These  shoals  it  is  thought  could  be  avoided  by  a  canal  around  them 
or  deepened  by  a  sluice.  The  river  is  navigable  for  ten  months  in  the 
year,  and  boats  used  on  the  river  and  slack-water  navigation  can  then 
pass  free  from  all  detention.  It  is  desirable  that  this  work  should  be 
accomplished,  as  great  detriment  must  result  to  the  trade  when  the 
western  railroad  and  slack-water  navigation  are  completed,  particu- 
larly during  the  season  of  greatest  activity,  as  this  river  below 
Fayetteville  is  the  common  outlet  for  all  the  internal  trade  towards 
Wilmington  and  the  Atlantic.  Steamboats  ply  daily  between  Wil- 
mington and  Fayetteville,  a  distance  of  100  miles,  in  twelve  hours, 
and  those  of  small  size  will  be  employed  to  tow  the  barges  on  the 
slack- water  navigation. 

Besides  their  slack-water  navigation,  the  citizens  of  Fayetteville 
have  undertaken  to  construct  a  railroad  direct  to  the  coal  fields,  with 
the  intention  of  carrying  it  on  to  the  junction  with  the  Central  road, 
near  High  Point,  and  have  pushed  its  structure  with  great  energy  and 
perseverance.  The  whole  route  has  been  surveyed,  and  the  road 
located  the  entire  distance  of  fifty  miles,  a  fourth  part  of  which  is  now 
completed  and  in  use.  It  is  confidently  believed  that  they  will  be  able 
to  finish  the  whole  in  a  year.  Having  done  thus  much  without  any 
assistance,  they  hope  to  get  some  aid  from  the  State,  and  of  which 
their  project  is  deserving.  There  need  be  no  apprehension  as  to  its 
detracting  from  the  slack-water  navigation,  for  there  will  be  abundance 
of  traffic  for  both.  The  one  will  assist  the  other,  and  both  are  essential 
for  the  conveyance  of  passengers  and  freight. 

I  see  every  reason  to  anticipate  the  influx  of  a  large  population, 
with  an  abundant  capital,  to  mine  and  manufacture  the  raw  material, 
in  which  case  all  the  routes  of  transportation  will  receive  as  much 
encouragement  as  will  satisfy  the  most  sanguine  expectations  that 
may  be  entertained  by  the  projectors. 

The  cheaper  and  more  certain  the  conveyance  of  the  productions 
and  manufactured  articles  the  greater  will  be  the  benefit  to  both 
projector  and  State. 

Other  improvements  are  projected;  among  them  a  railroad  from  the 
coal  fields  to  Raleigh,  a  distance  of  some  thirty  miles.  The  route  is 
a  most  favorable  one,  and  will  make  another  connexion  with  the 


22 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


Central  road,  also  with  the  Gaston  and  Raleigh,  and  through  it  with 
the  Seaboard  and  Roanoke,  which  will  place  the  coal  fields  into  direct 
communication  of  a  few  hours  with  Norfolk. 

Besides  the  above,  there  will  be  a  connexion  with  the  harbor  of 
Beaufort,  by  the  Central  road  to  Goldsboro7,  and  thence,  by  the 
Newberne  and  Morehead  City,  to  that  point.  The  distance  of  both 
the  above  routes  is  less  than  200  miles.  There  is  also  a  connexion 
talked  of  betwen  Fayetteville  and  Warsaw,  on  the  Wilmington  and 
Weldon,  and  from  the  latter,  by  a  branch  road,  at  Kingston,  which 
will  give  another  route. 

Deeming  it  a  part  of  my  duty,  after  I  had  completed  the  examina- 
tion of  the  Deep  River  district,  I  passed  over  these  routes,  and  to 
the  seaboard  at  Beaufort  harbor.  That  of  Wilmington  I  was  personally 
well  acquainted  with,  and  also  with  Beaufort,  through  the  surveys. 
I  need  not,  however,  offer  any  remarks  on  either  of  these  places,  as 
they  are  too  well  known  to  require  any  description.  Wilmington  has 
a  large  and  increasing  trade,  with  an  enterprising  community.  Beau- 
fort is  looking  forward  to  becoming,  at  no  distant  period,  a  point  of 
shipment  for  the  productions  of  the  State  to  the  northern  ports,  and 
several  distinguished  individuals  have  embarked  in  the  improvements 
with  capital  and  energy. 

Whilst  speaking  of  the  individual  exertions  made  in  the  State,  I 
should  refer  to  the  projects  entertained  in  South  Carolina  of  directing 
some  of  her  lines  of  internal  improvements  towards  those  leading  to 
the  coal  fields  of  the  Deep  river.  Surveys  have  been  made  from 
Camden,  by  the  route  of  Carthage,  but  I  have  some  doubts  of  this 
being  pushed  forward  with  the  energy  that  I  found  existing  among 
the  citizens  of  North  Carolina,  and  the  determination  to  carry  on  the 
works  now  constructing  or  about  to  be  undertaken. 

I  cannot  speak  with  any  certainty  of  the  improvements  having 
begun  in  the  Deep  River  district  itself.  A  few  years  ago  many  com- 
panies were  organized,  and  property  purchased  on  speculation;  but 
many  projectors  became  disheartened,  finding  there  would  be  no  means 
of  getting  these  raw  materials  to  market,  in  consequence  of  the  failure 
to  establish  the  slack-water  navigation ;  but  as  this  event  is  at  last 
consummated,  they  are  about  to  be  re-established  and  put  in  operation. 

The  property  has  passed  out  of  the  hands  of  speculators  into  those 
who  intend  to  adapt  its  natural  advantages  to  useful  and  profitable 
ends.  With  the  opening  of  the  routes  I  understand  many  will  com- 
mence operations,  and  I  make  no  doubt  they  will  produce,  in  a  few 
years,  such  changes  in  the  district  as  will  fully  establish  what  is  now 
only  conjecture. 

On  leaving  the  Deep  River  district  I  took  the  plank  road  from  the 
Gulf  to  Fayetteville,  a  distance  of  fifty  miles,  in  a  southerly  direction. 
The  country  is  very  sparsely  settled,  and  is  generally  covered  by  the 
virgin  forest  of  long  leaf  pine.  But  few  of  the  trees  have  been 
"  boxed. n  The  country  rises  until  the  plantation  of  A.  Schermer- 
horn  is  reached,  where  it  is  four  hundred  feet  above  the  level,  and 
forms  the  dividing  line  of  waters  flowing  north  and  south.    Here  the 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY.  23 


Gulf  plank  road  joins  that  from  Fayette ville  to  Ashboro',  in  Randolph 
county. 

From  Schermerborn's  to  Wilmington  there  is  a  regular  series  of 
undulations,  not  unlike  the  ground-swell  of  the  ocean,  extending  to 
within  a  few  miles  of  Fayetteville,  and  these  undulations  tend  east 
and  west,  and  appear  to  extend  over  this  whole  section  of  country; 
lie  directly  across  the  line  of  railroad,  running  nearly  north  and  south ; 
consequently  require  heavy,  deep  cutting.  In  one  of  these,  about 
ten  miles  from  Fayetteville,  the  substratum  has  been  reached,  corre- 
sponding to  the  surface  undulations,  and  exposing  to  view  the  tena- 
cious and  unctuous  blue  clay  of  which  it  is  composed. 

I  regret  that  my  time  did  not  permit  my  delaying  to  examine  it 
carefully.  The  country,  to  within  a  few  miles  of  Fayetteville,  con- 
tinues to  be  Avell  wooded  with  the  long  leaf  pine;  the  soil  is  sandy, 
though  occasionally  we  passed  over  some  of  the  sandstone,  or  the 
"hard  pan  rock,"  of  the  country,  (and  which  frequently  caps  the 
undulations  spoken  of  above.)  It  is  of  a  dark  brown  or  reddish  color, 
is  used  in  building,  and  is  a  cheap  and  easily  wrought  material,  but 
cannot  bear  exposure  to  heat. 

Fayetteville  is  well  situated  on  the  north  side  of  Rockfish  creek, 
some  72  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Cape  Fear  river,  when  at  its 
lowest  stages.  During  freshets  the  river  rises  50  feet,  but  these  pass 
off  rapidly.  On  the  Rockfish  creek  and  the  streams  there  is  excel- 
lent water  power,  on  which  a  number  of  mills  have  been  established 
for  the  manufacture  of  cotton,  paper,  &c. 

I  was  exceedingly  gratified  with  my  visit  to  the  United  States 
arsenal,  in  charge  of  Captain  Bradford,  of  the  army.  Few  establish- 
ments will  compare  with  it  for  the  arrangement  of  the  buildings  and 
proper  adaptation  to  their  uses.  Every  department  of  the  army 
implements  are  here  stored  in  a  state  for  immediate  use,  and  the  good 
•order,  cleanliness,  and  system  prevailing,  show  unceasing  attention  to 
the  duties  assigned  him. 

I  understood  that  the  whole  had  been  under  his  direction  from  the 
commencement,  except  for  a  short  time  during  the  war,  when  he  was 
employed  in  Mexico.  A  range  of  workshops  have  lately  been  added, 
and  the  machinery  is  being  put  up,  to  make  it  a  manufacturing  estab- 
lishment as  well  as  a  depot.  It  is  situated  upon  the  high  bluff  over- 
looking the  town,  and  commands  one  of  the  finest  views  in  the  country. 
To  Captain  Bradford  I  desire  to  return  my  thanks  for  his  attentions  to 
myself  and  other  members  of  the  commission;  and  to  the  citizens  also, 
all  of  whom  united  to  afford  me  every  facility  in  their  power. 

I  may  make  mention  here,  that  I  visited  the  "workshops"  of  the 
North  Carolina  Central  Railroad  Company,  situated  16  miles  east  of 
Greensboro',  where  they  have  it  in  contemplation  to  manufacture  all 
the  machinery  of  the  road.  The  shops  are  extensive,  well  arranged, 
and  admirably  adapted  for  the  purposes  intended;  but  I  was  disap- 
pointed in  learning  that  all  the  iron  used  was  imported  from  other 
States,  and  therefore  I  had  no  opportunity  of  seeing  the  iron  of  the 
State  in  use,  or  employed  in  the  construction  of  machinery  of  any 
kind,  as  I  had  been  led  to  anticipate;  affording  another  proof  that 


24  EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 

the  valuable  productions  of  North  Carolina  are  unknown,  and  conse- 
quently uncalled  for. 

Desirous  of  comparing  the  relative  values  of  the  iron  ore  of  the 
Deep  River  district  with  those  of  the  western  part  of  the  State,  I 
made  a  visit  to  the  "High  Shoal  falls,"  to  inspect  some  of  the  forges 
which  are  now  in  operation  at  that  place,  and  on  the  south  fork  of  the 
Catawba,  taking  with  me  specimens  of  those  of  the  Deep  river,  to 
compare  them  with  similar  kinds  of  ore  which  I  understood  was  now 
being  produced  in  blooms  or  loups  from  the  Calatan  forge  in  that 
part  of  the  State.  I  was  disappointed  in  finding  the  iron  works  at 
the  "High  Shoal"  discontinued,  and  the  water  power  exclusively 
applied  to  the  reduction  of  gold  ores.  I  saw,  however,  many  speci- 
mens of  the  peroxide  and  argillaceous  ores  from  which  iron  had  been 
made,  and  which  strongly  resembled  the  specimens  I  had  with  me. 
I  found  several  forges  at  work  on  the  south  fork  of  the  Catawba, 
forging  blooms,  which  they  assured  me  were  of  the  best  kinds  of  ore 
that  could  be  procured;  but  they  were  not  comparable  to  the  speci- 
mens I  showed  them,  which  they  considered  to  be  of  the  best  kind. 
These  forges  were  small  and  rudely  constructed;  the  trip-hammer  was 
worked  by  water  power,  which  also  gave  the  blast.  They  seldom  pro- 
duce over  350  pounds  in  a  day,  with  two  forges  and  three  workmen,, 
for  which  they  obtain  four  and  a  half  cents  per  pound,  equal  to  about 
$100  per  ton.    The  fuel  used  was  charcoal. 

Having  given  the  details  of  the  examination  of  the  Deep  River 
country,  its  coal,  iron,  and  timber,  I  shall  consider  that  part  of  the 
resolution  of  the  Senate  relative  to  the  "expediency  of  establishing, 
at  some  point  in  the  State,  machine  and  workshops  for  the  construc- 
tion of  engines,  boilers,  &c,  &c,  for  naval  vessels."  The  contents 
of  this  report  fully  establish  the  fact  that  there  is  an  abundance  of 
the  raw  materials  for  the  manufacture  of  iron  of  the  very  best 
description  for  use  in  the  construction  of  engines  and  boilers  for 
naval  vessels;  that,  with  the  exception  of  the  largest  size  of  timber, 
there  is  also  an  abundance  of  that  material  for  use  in  the  construction 
of  the  implements  of  wood  employed  on  board  naval  vessels,  and 
there  is  no  doubt  that  all  these  materials  can  be  obtained  at  less  cost 
and  of  superior  quality  than  elsewhere  in  the  eastern  section  of  the 
United  States.  This  could  be  accomplished  either  by  the  government 
erecting  furnaces  for  the  reduction  of  the  ores,  or  by  encouragement 
offered  for  the  best  kinds  of  iron,  &c,  for  these  purposes. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  expediency  of  having  the  indestruc- 
tible materials  used  in  our  steam  navy  of  the  very  best  kind  constantly 
on  hand,  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  steam  service;  and  I  can  see  no 
difficulty  in  the  government  establishing  machine  and  workshops  for 
the  construction  of  all  the  parts  of  the  engines  and  plates  for  boilers, 
as  well  as  workshops  for  the  making  of  implements  required,  of  woodr 
in  the  naval  service. 

As  to  the  expediency  of  establishing  these  at  some  point  in  the 
State  of  North  Carolina,  you  will  be  able  to  come  to  a  correct  con- 
clusion upon  the  subject  now  that  all  the  facts  are  laid  before  you. 

Our  attention  being  specially  directed  to  the  Deep  River  country 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


25 


we  have  a  better  knowledge  of  it  than  any  other  part  of  the  State; 
and  we  believe  that  no  other  portion  of  North  Carolina  can  offer  so 
many  advantages  for  the  manufacture  of  iron  as  the  Deep  River  dis- 
trict. Besides  an  abundance  of  raw  material,  there  is  both  water  and 
steam  power  at  command.  The  climate  is  salubrious  and  the  country 
healthy;  all  kinds  of  provisions  abundant  and  cheap.  The  agricultural 
products  consist  of  wheat,  corn,  rye,  and  oats.  Vegetables  and  fruits 
are  to  be  had  in  their  season,  in  plenty  and  of  fine  kinds. 

The  great  advantages  it  offers  to  the  miner  and  manufacturer  of 
iron  will  insure  a  large  population  of  those  engaged  in  these  pursuits. 
It  is  also  desirable  for  the  agriculturist;  finer  crops  are  seldom  seen 
than  those  which  fell  under  our  observation  on  the  bottom  lands, 
bordering  the  ravines  and  creeks,  and  they  seldom  fail. 

The  temperature  neither  partakes  of  the  extremes  of  winter  or 
summer;  and  those  who  have  passed  many  years  there  enjoyed  ex- 
cellent health.  Although  constantly  exposed  during  the  months  of 
August  and  September,  in  the  hottest  weather  I  felt  little  inconveni- 
ence and  no  debility  from  the  effects  of  heat  after  I  reached  this  dis- 
trict. The  navigation  of  the  river  is  never  closed  by  ice,  and  travel 
on  the  railroads  rarely  interrupted. 

The  distance  frcm  Washington  is  less  than  24  hours  by  rail,  and 
when  the  contemplated  improvements  are  finished  there  will  be  means 
of  transportation  north,  south,  east,  and  west. 

I  herewith  submit  copies  of  the  reports  of  Chief  Engineers  Hunt 
and  D.  B.  Martin  and  Naval  Constructor  S.  M.  Pook  to  me,  relative 
to  the  fulfilment  of  the  duties  assigned  them  in  the  examination  of  the 
Deep  River  district.  It  affords  me  pleasure  to  state  that  their  duties 
were  performed  to  my  entire  satisfaction. 

I  annex  a  map  of  the  Deep  River  district,  prepared  by  myself,  to 
which  reference  has  been  made  in  the  body  of  this  report. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  great  respect, 

CHARLES  WILKES, 
Captain  United  States  Navy,  Chief  of  ComH  n. 

Hon.  Isaac  Toucey, 

Secretary  of  the  Navy,  Washington. 


Washington,  D.  C,  December  4,  1858. 

Sift:  Herewith  enclosed  you  will  please  find  our  report  on  the  ex- 
amination of  the  iron,  (ore,)  coal,  and  timber  of  the  Deep  River 
country,  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina,  as  per  orders  of  the  Navy 
Department  of  the  21st  of  July  last. 

First,  we  would  please  state  that  this  report  has  been  delayed, 
waiting  for  samples  of  minerals  to  be  sent  from  the  Deep  River 
country  to  be  analyzed,  as  we  wished  to  give  the  analysis  in  this 
report;  but  as  they  have  very  lately  arrived,  and  it  requiring  con- 
siderable time  to  make  the  analysis,  which  is  being  done  under  your 


26 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


directions,  and  as  you  informed  us  you  would  state  the  analysis  in 
your  report,  we  concluded  it  unnecessary  to  wait  longer  for  that 
purpose. 

As  our  orders  referred  particularly  to  the  examination  of  iron,  coal, 
and  timber,  we  think  it  proper  here  to  state,  that  in  consequence  of 
there  not  having  been  any  furnaces  in  operation,  or,  as  yet,  no  iron 
made  in  that  section  of  country,  we  cannot  report  what  will  be  the 
quality  of  iron  made,  should  furnaces  ever  be  put  in  operation,  as 
that  will  depend  almost  as  much  on  the  manufacturing  as  on  the  raw 
material;  even  a  chemical  analysis  showing  the  component  parts  of 
an  ore  will  not  determine  the  quality  of  the  products  of  a  furnace. 
But  from  the  great  quantities  of  ore  we  saw  in  different  localities, 
together  with  the  various  kinds  and  qualities — some  exceedingly  rich 
— we  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  there  is  in  the  Deep  River  country 
almost  inexhaustible  quantities  of  ore,  from  which,  by  a  proper 
selection  and  mixing,  the  very  best  quality  of  pig  or  wrought  iron 
can  be  made. 

Of  coals,  as  you  are  aware,  there  are  two  kinds.  We  shall  speak 
first  of  the  bituminous,  which  appears  to  be  the  general  product  of 
that  coal  field.  A  sample,  sent  on,  was  tried  in  the  smith  shop  in  the 
Washington  navy  yard,  and  compares  well  with  the  Cumberland  coals 
used  there.  It  appears  quite  free  from  sulphur  or  slate,  and  leaves 
very  little  earthy  matter. 

Though  we  do  not  believe  that  the  average  produce  of  the  mine 
will  compare  in  quality  with  the  small  sample  sent  for  test,  (as  that 
is  contrary  to  our  former  experience,)  yet  we  have  no  doubt  that,  by 
careful  mining,  the  coals  of  the  Deep  River  valley  will  compare  well 
in  quality  with  any  bituminous  coals  in  market,  and  will  ever  find 
ready  sale  either  for  smith' s  use  or  for  making  gas,  and  with  properly 
constructed  ovens  it  will  make  a  good  coke  for  the  manufacturing  of 
iron.  For  steamers  it  is  not  as  good  as  Pennsylvania  anthracite. 
The  seam  of  semi-bituminous  coals  discovered  in  the  Deep  River  val- 
ley containing,  as  it  does,  so  little  volatile  matter,  it  nearly  approaches 
anthracite.  In  our  opinion  it  can  never  have  much  local  value  so 
long  as  good  coals  are  so  abundant;  and  we  think  it  is  of  too  poor 
quality  to  pay  transportation  and  compete  with  the  poorest  quality  of 
anthracite  now- in  market. 

The  extent  of  the  Deep  River  coal  field,  or  the  probable  supply 
contained  therein,  is  a  question  more  properly  belonging  to  geologists, 
and  we  presume  will  be  given  in  your  report,  as  far  as  could  be  ascer- 
tained, though  we  trust  it  will  not  be  improper  for  us  here  to  state 
that  the  slopes,  shafts,  and  pits  which  we  were  shown,  prove  a  con- 
tinuous seam  of  coal  on  the  northern  outcrop,  from  Mclvers7  planta- 
tion, proceeding  up  the  river  eighteen  or  twenty  miles;  and  Professor 
Emmons,  in  one  of  his  reports,  says:  "Its  outcrop  of  coal,  or  line 
upon  which  it  has  been  proved  to  exist,  is  about  thirty  miles."  That 
being  the  case,  and  there  being  two  or  three  seams  of  coal,  one  of 
which  is  six  feet  thick,  we  think  there  can  be  no  doubt  there  will  be 
an  abundant  supply  for  a  long  period,  either  for  commercial  or  manu- 
facturing purposes. 


EXAMINATION   OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


27 


The  Deep  River  country  abounds  in  a  variety  of  timber,  though  as 
far  as  we  saw  we  should  judge  there  is  but  little  which  will  answer 
for  ship  building,  even  if  there  were  means  for  transporting  it  to  the 
seaboard.  The  long  leafed  or  yello  w  pine  is  most  abundant,  and  forms 
almost  interminable  forests  on  the  south  side;  while  on  the  north  and 
west  there  is  a  variety  of  oak,  intermixed  with  hickory,  ash,  elms,  and 
short  leafed  pines. 

Should  it  ever  become  a  manufacturing  country,  there  will  be  found 
a  plentiful  supply  of  good  timber  for  all  local  purposes.  But  in  a 
country  where  good  iron  ore  is  so  plentiful,  the  otherwise  useless 
forests  of  timber  might  be  profitably  used  in  the  manufacturing  of 
iron,  as  charcoal  pigs,  or  blooms,  find  a  much  more  ready  sale,  and 
bear  a  higher  price  than  iron  made  with  mineral  coals. 

Although  our  orders  clo  not  call  for  information  on  the  following 
subject,  yet  we  deem  it  our  duty  to  state  the  fact,  that  whatever  may 
be  the  natural  resources  or  mineral  wealth  of  the  Deep  River  country, 
they  are  as  yet,  in  a  commercial  or  manufacturing  point  of  view,  of 
but  very  little  value,  as  there  is  no  way  or  means  of  transporting  them 
to  market,  either  by  water  or  railroad.  What  maybe  done  hereafter 
we  know  not;  that  is  the  present  condition. 

We  are,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servants, 

H.  HUNT, 
Chief  Engineer  United  States  Navy. 

DAN.  B.  MARTIN, 
Chief  Engineer  United  States  Navy. 

Captain  Charles  Wilkes, 

United  States  Navy. 


Westervelt  Ship  Yard, 

New  York,  September  6,  1858. 
Sir:  In  obedience  to  your  order  I  have  examined  the  timber  lands 
in  Deep  River  country,  and  respectfully  report  that  I  first  took  a 
course  through  the  woods  from  Haywood  to  Egypt,  between  Deep 
river  and  Lick  creek.  I  found  the  pines  decayed  for  about  one-third 
the  distance,  and  the  balance  well  timbered  with  the  long  leaf  pines, 
but  they  are  generally  too  small  to  be  useful  for  naval  purposes,  being 
under  16  inches  in  diameter,  although  there  are  a  few  from  20  to  24 
inches. 

I  then  returned  to  Haywood  from  Mr.  Mclvers',  to  Captain  Bry- 
ant's, turning  down  the  road  from  Fayette ville  towards  Lick  creek, 
and  then  to  the  Cape  Fear  .river,  keeping  along  the  creek  and  cross- 
ing the  road  into  the  low  grounds  of  the  creek  and  Cape  Fear  river 
until  we  came  on  the  land  of  Dr.  McCoy,  and  then  back  to  Bryant's. 
From  Bryant's  we  again  took  a  course  towards  Egypt,  keeping  along 
the  Deep  river,  and  about  half  a  mile  distant  from  it,  turning  down 
into  the  low  grounds  at  various  points,  examining  for  the  white  oaks. 
There  are  many  oaks  of  the  smaller  growth,  from  16  inches  and  less 


28 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  EIVER  COUNTRY. 


diameter  at  25  to  30  feet  above  the  ground,  but  very  few  of  suitable 
size  for  naval  purposes.  The  largest  I  saw  was  on  Dr.  McCoy's  plan- 
tation, where  there  is  a  small  tract  of  uncleared  land  (about  two  miles 
by  a  half  mile)  of  the  white  oaks  and  overcup  oaks,  but  very  few  that 
would  work  more  than  12  or  14  inches  square  40  feet  above  the 
ground.  Similar  timber  grows  from  Lick  creek  to  below  Buckhorn 
falls,  but  there  is  no  large  tracts  of  white  oaks  suitable  for  naval  pur- 
poses, although  there  are  a  few,  scattered  here  and  there,  which 
would  answer. 

I  then  visited  the  Crab  tree  and  White  Oak  creeks,  where  there 
are  white  oaks  of  a  larger  growth,  and  some  of  them  suitable  for 
naval  purposes,  for  planks,  stocks,  &c. ;  but  no  large  tracts  of  un- 
cleared land  between  Haywood  and  the  New  Hope,  and  but  a  small 
number  of  trees  of  the  larger  growth  in  this  vicinity.  On  the  New 
Hope,  from  Farrington's  to  Chapel  Hill,  there  are  some  of  the  largest 
trees  I  have  seen,  but  they  are  principally  of  the  overcup  and  chestnut 
oaks,  which  are  not  considered  so  good  for  naval  purposes  as  the  white 
oaks  which  grow  upon  higher  ground.  But  few  of  the  white  oaks  of 
sufficient  size  are  found  upon  the  high  grounds,  although  there  are 
many  trees  on  this  section  suitable  for  plank,  stocks,  &c. 

I  would  here  remark  that  the  roads  are  very  bad,  the  country  un- 
dulating, and  it  would  be  very  difficult  to  transport  timber  of  the 
large  size  any  distance. 

From  New  Hope  creek  I  proceeded  back  to  Egypt,  and  from  thence 
took  the  road  to  McLendon's  creek  and  to  Tyson's  creek,  and  in  this 
vicinity  the  timber  is  similar  to  that  found  at  New  Hope,  but  the 
lands  are  generally  cleared  where  the  large  timber  has  grown,  except 
on  this  creek. 

We  proceeded  southwest  from  Tyson's  to  Richland  creek,  passing 
some  pine  woods,  of  small  size,  on  Harrington's  land;  from  thence  to 
Carthage  we  saw  some  pine  woods,  which  have  not  been  cut  into, 
where  the  land  is  uncleared  and  covered  with  long  leaf  pines  suitable 
for  plank  stocks  for  naval  purposes;  but,  so  far  as  I  examined,  large 
trees  are  fewer  in  comparison  with  those  of  smaller  size.  From  Car- 
thage we  took  a  northeast  direction  through  the  woods  to  the  head  of 
Cowley  and  Governor's  creeks  to  the  branch  plank  road  leading  to 
Carbonton  and  the  Gulf,  striking  the  plank  road  near  Mcintosh's  and 
Kiddle's,  towards  Eli  Craven's;  I  saw  no  timber  of  suitable  size  for 
naval  purposes  on  this  route  until  we  came  to  the  pine  wood  between 
the  plank  road  and  the  Little  Pocket;  from  this  point  towards  Buffalo 
Church  are  some  of  the  large  pines  on  the  uncleared  lands,  but  no 
large  quantities  of  the  trees  of  the  larger  growth,  the  majority  of  them 
being  small  in  diameter.  In  passing  through  the  woods  from  the 
Buffalo  Church  on  to  the  plank  road  leading  to  Fayetteville,  I  saw 
very  few  trees  of  the  larger  size,  although  there  are  an  abundance  of 
small  trees  from  twelve  to  sixteen  inches  in  diameter.  There  are  no 
roads  or  means  of  transportation  for  large  timber,  and  the  country  is 
much  broken. 

I  visited  the  arsenal  at  Fayetteville,  and  saw  suitable  workshops 


EXAMINATION  OF  THE  DEEP  RIVER  COUNTRY. 


29 


with  steam  engine  and  timber  sheds,  where  may  be  manufactured  all 
articles  required  for  army  or  naval  purposes. 

I  also  visited  Rock  Fish  mills,  where  there  is  a  paper  mill  and 
cotton  factory,  with  abundance  of  never-failing  water  power,  avail- 
able for  any  purpose. 

The  railroad,  in  course  of  construction  from  Fayetteville  to  the 
coal  fields,  is  finished  about  eight  miles  from  there.  It  is  supposed  it 
will  be  entirely  finished  by  next  spring.  It  is  also  in  contemplation 
to  connect  this  road  with  the  North  Carolina  road  at  Warsaw,  which 
intersects  the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  road  about  forty-eight  miles 
from  Wilmington. 

The  distance  from  Fayetteville  to  Wilmington  by  the  Cape  Fear 
river  is  said  to  be  120  miles.  I  was  thirty  hours  going  the  distance 
in  the  steamer.  We  grounded  about  eight  miles  from  Fayetteville, 
although  drawing  only  eighteen  inches.  I  am  told  that  from  four  to 
five  feet  water  may  be  depended  upon  for  ten  months  in  the  year. 
Respectfully  yours, 

S.  M.  POOK. 

Captain  Charles  Wilkes, 

United  States  Navy. 


I 


3.>*Corta.  2 ? Jess.  Senate  Kv.  Doe  .y??6. 


IB- 

1 

IS 

3 

'       v'""~:  Character 
...Sail 

3hwk  slide  nilh  cytlierc- 
.-- Calcareous  sholes  without  fossils 

Black  slates  mtit  cylherc,  Posidan. 

__  Green  adcarrmus  shales  no  fossils 

.3lxick bituminous  sixties  wifJi  fbssils 

-  Calccweous  shales  ru>  fi>ssils 

-  Black  biiujranovjs  slates  with  fbssils 
-Iron,  balls 

Jjlack  slates  with  loss  Us 
.  CaJLrareous  shales  no (  fossils 

.Hard  Hack  slate. 

.  .BUu-k  slates, rirort  batiks 

.  Sparry  calcareous  shales  qreeu.  a>lor 

.  Black  slate  with  fbssils 

-  Tron  balls.  ,,     j  . 
 SarvdstoTiy 

JiUzck  slate,  fire  clav,  iron  bolts 


.Black  slates,  beds  of  argillaceous 
iron  (met  balls. 


BUu-k  state  iron  balls. 
 -Black slate  iron  balls 

^l^^HLA'l".Lshcte.coal 
"Black  bilarrnnoiu  slides,  iron  balls 

-Gray  sandstone  and  lire  clay 

-Black  band.  .  (y)ai 


.Black  band 


mack  Sin  1* 

S  e  ct  ion  of  the  E  gy  p  t  Shaft  4  60  fe et  d  e  e  p 


C M.  Gra  ham ,  bth. 


V 


